Lasting friendship buoys Woburn duo

WOBURN — Mickel Simpson and Ricky Aponte had the course all charted out — play basketball together on club teams, get to high school and lead Woburn to glory.

But fate dealt the duo a cruel hand.

Aponte was diagnosed with a heart condition following his freshman year and had to give up basketball. The news was a crushing blow for Simpson, but the 6-foot-3 senior guard has used it as personal motivation.

“I was devastated. I was there when he found out. I was shocked,” Simpson said. “Now, I play for him, I don’t want to let him down. I know if he was out there, he would be giving it his all, so I want to give it my all.

“I don’t want to look back and see what I could have done better. I want to give it 100 percent all the time.”

Aponte’s name may not appear in the box score, but his presence clearly can be felt. From his spot on the Woburn bench, Aponte is quick to offer encouragement or advice when the situation calls for it.

“We’ve played together since the sixth grade and we’re like family now,” Aponte said. “I see things on the court and I make sure to tell him what’s going on out there.”

Simpson hasn’t needed much advice, relying on his god-given talent to make an impact on the Woburn program. Coach Tom Sullivan had so much faith in Simpson’s ability from the start that he didn’t think twice about putting him out there against defending Division 1 state champion BC High on the road.

“They had the big shot blocker (Jake O‘Brien), one of the best around,” Sullivan said. “Mickel went right at him and finished with 18 points. He played like a seasoned veteran even though he was a baby at the time.”

Simpson blossomed as a sophomore, playing a key role in Woburn’s march to the Division 2 sectional title. Even though the dream ended in a crushing last-second loss to Milton at the Garden, it was a joyride Simpson gladly would take again.

“Oh it was a great experience,” Simpson said, “to play at the Tsongas (Arena) and the Garden, oh my goodness. Not everyone gets that opportunity. I’m hoping we get back there this year.

“I have that 2009 orange sticker (signifying Woburn’s postseason run) on my wall. I see it every morning, it’s an incentive. I want to get back there.”

The Simpson of today is a far cry from the youngster who played a secondary role on the championship squad.

“The beauty of Mickel is that he is a terrific athlete. He was a great athlete as a young kid,” Sullivan said. “His ballhandling, shooting and his knowledge has increased immeasurably over the last three years, and it’s all because he wants to get better.”

Those skills have caught the eye of several colleges. Simpson already has been accepted at Trinity, while other schools would be more than happy to see him land on their doorstep.

“As competitive as he is on the court, he’s a great kid off the court,” Sullivan said. “He truly is a coach’s dream.”

Do you have a similar story in your community? Let us know at dventura@bostonherald.com or e-mail your own Hot Shots-worthy video (max. 25 megabytes) to hotshots@heraldinteractive.com.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/high_school/general/view.bg?articleid=1317343

BLACK HISTORY MONTH CLASSIC >>> MONDAY 2/21 @ EMMANUEL COLLEGE

Time Monday, February 21 · 10:00am - 5:00pm

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Location Emmanuel College Gym

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Created By Basketball X-Perts

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Black History Month Classic 2/21 @ Emmanuel College (PRESIDENTS DAY/ NO SCHOOL)

Public School Event I (Emmanuel College)

12:30pm - New Mission HS vs. East Boston HS
2:00pm - Everett HS vs. Lowell HS

Independant School Event II (Emmanuel College)

3:30pm - Lee Academy (ME) vs. NIA Prep National Team (NJ)

FOOTAGE OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMvmlK9A9zI

Teamwork from Townies

Sophomore Tyrese Hoxter scored 27 points for Charlestown, but it was juniors Akosa Maduegbunam and Iser Barnes who carried the No. 4 Townies to an 86-75 overtime victory at Madison Park last night.

Maduegbunam scored 8 of his 18 points in the extra frame, highlighted by a fast-break slam that gave the Townies a 80-73 lead with just under three minutes to play.

“When your number’s called, you have to be ready to answer,’’ Maduegbunam said. “My team needed someone to step up and I was happy to take that role.’’

The high-flying guard hit a jumper to start overtime and sparked a 12-2 run, in which Barnes contributed 6 points.

The Townies were ahead comfortably, 66-54, with 3:59 to play when Madison Park coach Dennis Wilson called a timeout.
By Anthony Gulizia
Globe Correspondent / February 16, 2011

The Cardinals went on a 10-0 run and cut the lead to 2, forcing Charlestown to call time. Madison Park’s Ray Matthews then hit two free throws to tie the score at 66 with 1:28 to play.

Junior Rony Fernandes hit a jumper for the Townies, but the Cardinals’ Khayree Hudson answered. The teams traded free throws, then Hudson drove the lane, scored, and was fouled.

After Hudson missed the free throw, Hoxter took the inbounds pass and drove up the court, tying the game at 71 with 10 seconds to play.

Globe correspondent Paul Sulzer contributed to this report.

Article URL: http://www.boston.com/sports/schools/basketball/articles/2011/02/16/teamwork_from_townies/

Jacquil Taylor carries on Cambridge tradition

Any time a promising player makes his way through the Cambridge basketball program, the inevitable comparisons to Patrick Ewing begin.

The latest prodigy is 6-foot-8 sophomore Jacquil Taylor. Long and lean, Taylor is averaging more than 14 points and nearly five blocks a game for the top-ranked Falcons. With each passing contest, Taylor sees his name beginning to rise nationally.

Cambridge coach Lance Dottin knows all about expectations, having starred in the backcourt for the Falcons in the mid-1980s. He cautions those who want to call Taylor the next Ewing to slow down the enthusiasm just a tad.

“It is unfair because of what Patrick was able to accomplish in high school, both as an individual and as part of a (winning) team,” Dottin said. “But this young man is special, he’s developing every single day. As I’ve stated before, he’s the first one in the gym and the last one out.

“He has the desire and determination to become better. You can see that he’s come a long way offensively since his freshman year.”

Taylor might be only 15, but he knows the tradition of Cambridge basketball. Alumni always can be spotted at War Memorial Gymnasium during games, chatting with Taylor afterward.

“I know it’s a special thing to wear the Cambridge uniform,” the soft-spoken Taylor said. “I’ve heard about the past, I’ve been told that (Ewing) was a special player here.”

Dottin knows he has a potential gem in Taylor, who is ranked among the top five public players in New England for the class of 2013. That’s precisely why Dottin is pushing the envelope this season, asking more of his sophomore sensation.

“He’s 15 years old, he’s still a baby, but for us, now is the time for Jacquil to step up, and we need him to step up,” Dottin said. “There is a lot of great competition in the North, and we think he gives us a chance.”

Dottin isn’t referring to winning the Greater Boston League title. The measuring stick in Cambridge isn’t how many points you score or how many rebounds you snare. It’s all about the ultimate team prize in high school basketball — the Division 1 state title.

“That’s our only goal, to win it all,” said Taylor, without a hint of cockiness. “We need to stay humble, stay focused and work hard every single day.”

Just like Patrick Ewing did in his heyday.

Do you have a similar story in your community? Let us know at dventura@bostonherald.com or e-mail your own Hot Shots-worthy video (max. 25 megabytes) to hotshots@heraldinteractive.com.